苏云金芽孢杆菌BtC008杀虫晶体蛋白基因鉴定、克隆及杀虫活性分析

苏云金芽孢杆菌BtC008对棉铃虫、小菜蛾和甜菜夜蛾等鳞翅目害虫具有高毒力。本文分析了其杀虫基因类型包括cry1Ab、cry1Ca、cry1Ia、cry2Ab和一种新的cry1类基因,SDS-PAGE分析其至少2种cry1类基因获得了表达,在分子水平说明了该菌株高毒力的原因。在此基础上克隆了1种cry1Ab类杀虫晶体蛋白(insecticidalcrystalproteins,ICPs)基因,并被Bt杀虫晶体蛋白基因命名委员会命名为cry1Ab20。序列分析显示该基因所编码蛋白与已知的Cry1Ab13有1个氨基酸不同。将cry1Ab基因毒性片段(1.95kb)插入表达载体pET-21b,转化EscherichiacoliRosetta(DE3)菌株,表达的包涵体蛋白对小菜蛾和棉铃虫幼虫具有杀虫活性,LC50分别为100.74μg/mL和29.87μg/mL,进一步明确了Cry1Ab20蛋白的杀虫活性区。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌cry9Aa基因的克隆、表达及活性分析

为了解决目前广泛使用的cry1A类基因的抗性问题,获得对鳞翅目害虫高效杀虫基因,从菌株SC5D2和T03C001中鉴定并克隆到了2个新型cry9Aa基因,被Bt国际命名委员会分别正式命名为cry9Aa3和cry9Aa4,并进一步对其编码的蛋白进行活性测定。结果显示,2个基因对小菜蛾、玉米螟均具有较高的杀虫活性,其中对小菜蛾的LC50分别为1.83μg/mL和1.90μg/mL,对玉米螟的LC50分别为6.93μg/mL和1.06μg/mL。同时,两种Cry9Aa蛋白对Cry1Ac抗性小菜蛾都具有较高的杀虫活性,LC50分别为1.74μg/mL和1.39μg/mL,与敏感小菜蛾杀虫活性测定数据相当,表明Cry9Aa与Cry1Ac没有交互抗性。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌cry1Ie新基因的克隆、表达与生物活性测定

为获得新的鳞翅目害虫杀虫基因,根据已知cry1I类基因编码区设计简并引物,采用直接克隆法,以苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)菌株BN23-5质粒DNA为模板进行扩增,并对得到的基因进行鉴定和分析。结果表明:克隆得到一个完整的cry1Ie基因,全长2 160 bp,由719个氨基酸组成,该氨基酸序列与已知的4种Cry1Ie蛋白不同,与Cry1Ie2和Cry1Ie3的氨基酸序列同源性最高,为95.4%,被国际Bt杀虫晶体蛋白基因命名委员会命名为Cry1Ie5(登录号为KJ710646)。将该基因插入表达载体p ET-28a,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG低温诱导成功表达,SDS-PAGE电泳验证其大小为81 k D,与预测的分子量相符合。生物活性测定表明,Cry1Ie5表达的包涵体蛋白对小菜蛾和亚洲玉米螟具有杀虫活性,LC_(50)分别为0.43μg/m L和48.39μg/m L;对棉铃虫的致死率不高,但能明显抑制其生长;对甜菜夜蛾没有杀虫活性。     

Bt菌株FB的生物学特性及其cry、vip基因型鉴定

菌株FB是1株对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella幼虫具有高毒力的苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis （Bt）。本研究通过扫描电子显微镜、大质粒电泳、总蛋白SDS-PAGE及菌株生长特征观察的方式研究了菌株FB特征,克隆得到了基因cry1Ia、cry1Ea、cry1Ab、cry2Ab和vip3Aa全长,依据全基因组测序结果得到了1个cry8基因部分片段,首次在Bt菌株中同时发现基因cry1类和cry8类,这五种基因推导的氨基酸序列与已知基因序列相比,最高相似性分别为99%、98%、99%、100%、99%,而cry8半长基因与已知基因仅为63%。生测结果表明,蛋白Cry1Ia、Cry1Ea和Cry1Ab对小菜蛾幼虫具有较高杀虫活性。     

对绿盲蝽具有杀虫活性Bt菌株的筛选及Cry15Aa蛋白活性的研究

Bt棉有效控制了棉田主要害虫棉铃虫(Helicoverpa armigera),然而原来处于次要地位的刺吸式口器害虫盲蝽(Heteroptera:Miridae)为害逐年加重,目前对绿盲蝽(Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür)有效的抗虫基因未见报道。本研究以本实验室保存的Bt杀虫基因和菌株为材料,对绿盲蝽进行杀虫活性筛选。利用本实验室先前克隆的Mtx类杀虫基因cry15Aa表达产物进行绿盲蝽杀虫活性测定,研究结果显示Cry15Aa蛋白对绿盲蝽具有一定的杀虫活性。通过杀虫活性测定,获得对绿盲蝽有效的Bt菌株20株;对这些菌株表达蛋白进行质谱鉴定,LC-MS/MS质谱鉴定结果显示,这些菌株可能含有Cry1Aa、Cry1Ab、Cry1Ac、Cry1Ae、Cry1Af、Cry1Ag、Cry1Ah、Cry1Ba、Cry1Be、Cry8Ha等十余种对鳞翅目、鞘翅目害虫有杀虫活性的蛋白片段,并且有4株Bt菌株样品中检出了Mtx类杀虫蛋白Cry15Aa的片段。但是进一步基因鉴定结果表明,这4株菌株并不含有cry15Aa全长基因,推测这些菌株中含有Cry15类的新基因。上述研究结果表明这些菌株中可能存在对盲蝽有效的新型杀虫蛋白。本研究在发现了cry15Aa基因所表达的蛋白对绿盲蝽具有杀虫活性的同时,获得了对绿盲蝽具有杀虫活性的Bt新菌株,对绿盲蝽的生物防治具有重要的意义。     

北京植物园苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株的分离鉴定

[目的]从北京植物园采集的土壤样品中分离高毒力的苏云金芽胞杆菌.[方法]采用温度法筛选Bt菌株,比对大质粒DNA图谱,区分不同类型的Bt菌株,PCR-RFLP方法对cry1～cry40类基因型进行鉴定,SDS-PAGE分析杀虫晶体蛋白,测定Bt分离株对大猿叶甲、小菜蛾幼虫的杀虫活性,筛选出高毒力的菌株.[结果]从149份土壤样品中分离出147株Bt,分为12种类型,含有菱形、方形、球形和不规则等晶体类型;6株菌中分别含有fry1Aa、cry1Ab、cry1Ac、cy1Ah、cry1Ba、cry1Be、cry1Ia、cry1La、cry2Ab和cry7Aa等基因类型,其余6株中不含有已知基因.有9株表达约130 ku蛋白,1株表达约70 ku蛋白,2株表达约150 ku蛋白,有3株既表达130 ku蛋白又表达60 ku蛋白;发现一株对大猿叶甲具有较高毒力的菌株ZWY-7,1株对小菜蛾有高毒力的菌株ZWY-9,2株菌都没有检测到已知基因型.[结论]北京植物园中Bt分布广泛,类型多样,其中发现两株高毒力的菌株,有望获得新的杀虫基因.     

小菜蛾Btk抗性品系对四种Bt杀虫晶体蛋白抗性发展的研究

使用苏云金芽胞杆菌库斯塔克亚种（Btk）可湿性粉剂对小菜蛾进行继代汰选获得F₈₀代和F₁₀₀代抗性品系。通过分别测定Cry1Ab、Cry1Ac、Cry1Ah和Cry1Ca四种杀虫晶体蛋白对小菜蛾Btk抗性品系F₈₀代和F₁₀₀代的室内毒力,明确了小菜蛾Btk抗性品系对四种Bt杀虫晶体蛋白抗性发展规律。研究结果表明,汰选至F₈₀代时,Cry1Ca对小菜蛾的毒力最高,LC₅₀约12.1 mg/L,其次为Cry1Ac,LC₅₀约47.7 mg/L;而汰选至F₁₀₀代时,仍以Cry1Ca对小菜蛾的毒力最高,LC₅₀约21.4 mg/L,其次为Cry1Ab,LC₅₀约72.2 mg/L。与相对敏感品系相比,小菜蛾抗性品系对Cry1Ac的抗性发展较快（抗性倍数高达67.3～106.8倍）,对Cry1Ab的次之（抗性倍数高达60.0～66.1倍）,而对Cry1Ca和Cry1Ah的抗性发展较慢（抗性倍数分别为3.4～6.0倍和1.6～2.5倍）。以上结果说明,在主效杀虫基因为Cry1Ac的Btk药剂选择压力下,小菜蛾对四种Bt杀虫晶体蛋白的抗性发展速度差异较大,且Cry1Ac和Cry1Ab存在交互抗性风险。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌cry8Ea启动子区orf1片段缺失增强启动子活性

本文分别构建了cry8E基因上游的启动子(Porf18E)和其上游缺失orf1基因的启动子(PΔorf18E)融合lacZ基因的表达载体,通过β-半乳糖苷酶活性的分析,发现PΔorf18E的转录活性高于Porf18E。分别用PΔorf18E和Porf18E指导cry1Ac基因的表达,通过光学显微镜观察,发现两个启动子指导表达的Cry1Ac蛋白均可形成双锥形晶体;通过总蛋白定量分析发现,缺失orf1基因的启动子(PΔorf18E)指导的Cry1Ac蛋白表达量高于Porf18E启动子指导的Cry1Ac蛋白表达量;生物活性测定表明:PΔorf18E指导的Cry1Ac晶体蛋白对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella具有杀虫活性,高于Porf18E指导的Cry1Ac晶体蛋白对小菜蛾的杀虫活性。本文获得的强活性的启动子PΔorf18E是目前已报道的转录活性最高的cry基因启动子,该启动子为Cry蛋白的表达和遗传工程菌株构建提供了重要元件。     

二化螟Cry1Ac汰选品系对不同Bt蛋白的敏感性

为明确靶标害虫对Bt蛋白的抗性及对不同类型Bt蛋白的交互抗性,采用生物测定法进行了二化螟Chilo suppressalis(Walker)敏感品系和Cry1Ac汰选品系在Cry1Ac毒饲料上的时间-死亡率反应、对不同Bt杀虫蛋白的敏感性及不同Bt蛋白复配组合对二化螟毒力效果的研究。结果表明,二化螟Cry1Ac汰选品系已对36.67μg/mL(LC_(50))的Cry1Ac杀虫蛋白产生了一定的适应性,但对308.69μg/mL(LC90)的Cry1Ac蛋白反应仍较敏感。Cry1Ac敏感品系和汰选品系对Cry1Ab蛋白的LC_(50)分别为1.40μg/mL和3.86μg/mL,二者差异显著,但对Cry1Ca(1.63μg/mL和1.73μg/mL)或Cry2Aa(127.48μg/mL和144.50μg/mL)的LC_(50)差异不显著,即Cry1Ac汰选品系与Cry1Ab存在明显的交互抗性,但与Cry1Ca和Cry2Aa不存在交互抗性。在不同Bt蛋白复配组合中(1∶1复配),Cry1Ab+Cry1Ca、Cry1Ab+Cry2Aa和Cry1Ca+Cry2Aa增效作用最为显著。表明抗虫基因cry1Ca和cry2Aa可作为双价转基因抗虫水稻研发的候选基因。     

桂林喀斯特地貌分布区苏云金芽孢杆菌菌株的分离鉴定

从桂林喀斯特地貌分布区采集了165份天然土壤样品,从中分离出10株苏云金芽孢杆菌。光学显微镜观察发现有菱形、球形、不规则等晶体类型。通过核酸电泳比对其大质粒DNA的图谱来区分菌株的类型,发现该批菌株有良好的多样性。对这10株菌进行cry1、cry11、cry2、cry3、cry4、cry5、cry6、cry7、cry8、cry9、cry10类基因的PCR-RFLP鉴定,在8株菌中分别发现含有cry1、cry11、cry2、cry3等基因类型,而G4、G6菌株中不含有已知基因。SDS-PAGE分析了10株野生菌株的杀虫晶体蛋白表达谱,发现有10株表达约130kD蛋白,有3株既表达130kD蛋白又表达60kD蛋白。对大猿叶甲、小菜蛾进行了杀虫活性测定,发现了一株对大猿叶甲具有较高毒力的菌株G8,其LC50为48.2μg/ml,置信区间为9.6～1.4ml;有6株菌株对小菜蛾有高活性。     

Dermestid beetles in ‘evolution Canyon’, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, including new records for Israel

Fifteen species of dermestid beetles were recorded at ‘Evolution Canyon’ (EC), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. They represent ~35% of known Israeli dermestid species. The following three species were recorded for the first time in Israel:Trogoderma svriaca Dalla Torre, 1911;Ctesias svriaca Ganglbauer, 1904; andAnthrenus (s.str.) jordaniens Pic, 1934. Adults of 13 species were collected on the more solar radiated, warmer and climatically more fluctuating south-facing slope (SFS); ten species were collected on the opposite, north-facing slope (NFS), which was cooler and climatically more stable. The abundance of adult dermestid beetles was 1.9 times higher on the SFS than on the NFS (86 and 47, respectively). Species richness and abundance distribution at EC (three collecting stations on each slope and one at the valley bottom) were significantly negatively correlated with the plant cover that consisted of trees and bushes (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.007 and 0.039, respectively) and perennials (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.039 and 0.077, respectively), indicating that non-woody plants were preferred by adult dermestid beetles.     

Epidemiology of Toxigenic Fungi and their Associated Mycotoxins for Some Mediterranean Crops

Recent data on the epidemiology of the common mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium in infected or colonized plants, and in stored or processed plant products from the Mediterranean area are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the toxigenicity of the causal fungal species and the natural occurrence of well known mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, patulin, Alternaria-toxins and moniliformin), as well as some more recently described compounds (fusaproliferin, beauvericin) whose toxigenic potential is not yet well understood. Several Fusarium species reported from throughout the Mediterranean area are responsible of the formation of mycotoxins in infected plants and in plant products, including: Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides and F. poae, which produce deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenone, zearalenone, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin derivatives in wheat and other small grains affected by head blight or scab, and in maize affected by red ear rot. Moreover, strains of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans, that form fumonisins, beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and moniliformin, are commonly associated with maize affected by ear rot. Fumonisins, were also associated with Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus and Fusarium endosepsis of figs, caused primarily by F. proliferatum. Toxigenic A. alternata strains and associated tenuazonic acid and alternariols were commonly found in black mould of tomato, black rot of olive and citrus, black point of small cereals, and black mould of several vegetables. Toxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and ochratoxin A were often found associated with black rot of grapes, whereas toxigenic strains of A. flavus and/or P. verrucosum, forming aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, respectively, were found in moulded plant products from small cereals, peanuts, figs, pea, oilseed rape, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios, and almonds. Finally, toxigenic strains of P. expansum and patulin were frequently found in apple, pear and other fresh fruits affected by blue mould rot, as well as in derived juices and jams.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Plant Viruses Transmitted by Whiteflies

One-hundred and fourteen virus species are transmitted by whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci transmits 111 of these species while Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. abutilonia transmit three species each. B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum are present in the European–Mediterranean region, though the former is restricted in its distribution. Of the whitefly-transmitted virus species, 90% belong to the Begomovirus genus, 6% to the Crinivirus genus and the remaining 4% are in the Closterovirus, Ipomovirus or Carlavirus genera. Other named, whitefly-transmitted viruses that have not yet been ranked as species are also documented. The names, abbreviations and synonyms of the whitefly-transmitted viruses are presented in tabulated form together with details of their whitefly vectors, natural hosts and distribution. Entries are also annotated with references. Whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting plants in the European–Mediterranean region have been highlighted in the text.     

Broad bean mottle virus in Morocco; curculionid vectors,and natural occurrence in food legumes other than faba bean (Vicia faba)

Broad bean mottle virus (BBMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy faba-bean plants by the curculionid weevilsApion radiolus Kirby,Hypera variabilis Herbst,Pachytychius strumarius Gyll,Smicronyx cyaneus Gyll, andSitona lineatus L. The latter appeared to be an efficient vector: acquisition and inoculation occurred at the first bite, the rate of transmission was c. 41%, and virus retention lasted for at least seven days.S. lineatus transmitted the virus from faba bean to lentil and pea, but not to the three genotypes of chickpea tested. This is the first report on the generaHypera, Pachytychius, andSmicronyx as virus vectors, and onA. radiolus, H. variabilis, P. strumarius, andS. cyaneus as vectors of BBMV.Out of 351 samples of food legumes with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 16, 11, 19, and 17% of the samples of chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean, respectively, were found infected when tested for BBMV in DAS-ELISA. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of BBMV in chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean. The virus should be regarded as a food-legume virus rather than a faba-bean virus solely, and is considered an actual threat to food legume improvement programmes.     

Characterization of potato potyvirus Y (PVY) isolates from seed potato batches. Situation of the NTN, Wilga and Z isolates

A collection of 38 PVY isolates from seed potato batches, originating from several Western European countries, was characterized by using current biological, serological and molecular tools differentiating PVY strains and groups. The correlation between the three kinds of tests was good but not absolute. No single serological or PCR method was able to discriminate among the five isolate groups found. Twenty-nine isolates belonged to the PVY^N strain and six to the PVY^O strain. No PVY^C was found. Two other isolates reacted serologically like PVY^O, but were unable to elicit a hypersensitive response from the Ny_tbr gene and probably represent the PVY^Z group. At the molecular level, these two isolates showed a combination of both PVY^O and PVY^N and could be recombinants of these strains. Another isolate reacted serologically like PVY^O, but induced vein necrosis in tobacco, like PVY^N-Wilga. Some PVY^N isolates caused tuber ring necrosis in glasshouse conditions. These might belong to the PVY^NTN group. The PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wilga and PVY^Z groups probably represent pathotypes within strains PVY^N and PVY^O, respectively. The present study also confirms previous reports showing a high genetic variation at the 5 end within the PVYN strain.     

The autumn leafroller: Phenology,damage and parasitoids in a Dutch apple orchard

The phenology of the autumn leafroller,Syndemis musculana, a local pest of apple, was studied in order to forecast larval emergence. From 1983–1986, peak flight as determined with sexpheromone traps was always between 13–18 May. The duration of embryonic development was determined at various constant temperatures and used to estimate the periods of egg hatch in these four years. Each year, most eggs should have hatched in the second decade of June.Differences in attack rates between apple cultivars seem to be explained largely by the variation in picking time. Larvae are only half grown at the beginning of harvest (cv. James Grieve), and have gone into hibernation when the latest variety (cv. Golden Delicious) is picked. Moreover, the varieties Cox's Orange Pippin and Belle de Boskoop, picked about half time, are liable to receive additional damage by caterpillars brought with the picked fruits into storage.Various hymenopterous parasites were reared from caterpillars. As the only leafroller in the orchard which hibernates as mature larva,S. musculana may promote winter survival of some parasitoids, like the eulophidColpyclypeus florus.Samenvatting De fenologie van de herfstbladroller (Syndemis musculana Hübner), een incidentele plaag op appel, werd nader bepaald met het doel het uitkomen van de eieren te kunnen voorspellen. In 1983–1986 viel de piekvlucht, bepaald met behulp van feromoonvallen, steeds tussen 13 en 18 mei.De ontwikkelingsduur van de eieren bij verschillende constante temperaturen werd gebruikt om de periode van uitkomen te schatten. De meeste eieren zullen ieder jaar in de eerste helft van juni uitkomen.Geconstateerde verschillen in schade tussen appelrassen blijken goeddeels terug te voeren op verschillen in pluktijdstip. De rupsen van de herfstbladroller zijn pas half-was als de eerste appels eind augustus geplukt worden, terwijl tegen het einde van de oogst begin oktober de meeste al in winterslaap zijn. Met name tussentijdse rassen, als Cox's Orange Pippin and Schone van Boskoop, lopen extra schade op doordat grotere rupsen met de geplukte vruchten in de kist terecht komen.Uit de rupsen werden negen, al van andere boomgaardbladrollers bekende, sluipwespen gekweekt, Omdat deze bladrollersoort, als enige in de boomgaard, als volgroeide rups overwintert, lijkt zij bij uitstek geschikt als winterwaard.This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard De Schuilenburg, Schuilenburg 3, 4041 BK Kesteren, the Netherlands, to which address correspondence should be addressed.     

Diagnostics,genetic diversity and pathogenic variation of ascochyta blight of cool season food and feed legumes

Molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed to differentiate the Ascochyta pathogens that infect cool season food and feed legumes, as well as to improve the sensitivity of detecting latent infection in plant tissues. A seed sampling technique was developed to detect a 1% level of infection by Ascochyta rabiei in commercial chickpea seed. The Ascochyta pathogens were shown to be genetically diverse in countries where the pathogen and host have coexisted for a long time. However, where the pathogen was recently introduced, such as A. rabiei to Australia, the level of diversity remained relatively low, even as the pathogen spread to all chickpea-growing areas. Pathogenic variability of A. rabiei and Ascochyta pinodes pathogens in chickpea and field pea respectively, appears to be quantitative, where measures of disease severity were based on aggressiveness (quantitative level of infection) rather than on true qualitative virulence. In contrast, qualitative differences in pathogenicity in lentil and faba bean genotypes indicated the existence of pathotypes of Ascochyta lentis and Ascochyta fabae. Therefore, reports of pathotype discrimination based on quantitative differences in pathogenicity in a set of specific genotypes is questionable for several of the ascochyta-legume pathosystems such as A. rabiei and A. pinodes. This is not surprising since host resistance to these pathogens has been reported to be mainly quantitative, making it difficult for the pathogen to overcome specific resistance genes and form pathotypes. For robust pathogenicity assessment, there needs to be consistency in selection of differential host genotypes, screening conditions and disease evaluation techniques for each of the Ascochyta sp. in legume-growing countries throughout the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of pathotype diversity and aggressiveness within populations is important in the selection of resistant genotypes.     

Characterization of Sclerotinia minor populations in Texas peanut fields

In the summer of 2004 an epidemic of sclerotinia blight of peanut, a disease caused by Sclerotinia minor, occurred in Texas in fields where the disease was never previously detected. The disease was observed on many plants within one of the fields (>3000 disease foci), although most foci were <1 m. It is hypothesized that these observations were inconsistent with the recent introduction of a monocyclic pathogen, even if disease developed under conducive environmental conditions. The pattern of disease is most suggestive of the presence of foliar (ascospore) infections, although air temperature was above the known limits for apothecia development if the pathogen had arrived in the field in 2004 peanut seed. To further examine this epidemic, 232 isolates were collected, across a variety of spatial scales spanning this field and other Texas peanut fields, and evaluated for aggressiveness, fungicide sensitivity and genotypic diversity. There was wide variation among isolates for the phenotypic characteristics measured, but there was no evidence that a genotypically unique, highly aggressive, and fungicide resistant isolate had been introduced or evolved. The predominant genotype, TX1, which contained 154 isolates, was found in every county and field population.     

Tumours of Begonia and some other ornamentals,induced by Corynebacterium fascians

In 1975 many tumours were observed in plants ofBegonia Schwabenland grown in Aalsmeer. Submersion of the roots ofNicotiana megalosiphon seedlings in a homogenate of tumorous tissue, induced tumours after two weeks. Short periods of submergence yielded results similar to those obtained after longer periods. Tumour homogenates lost their infectivity after ten min at 50°C. Aphids transmitted the infectious agent.Treatment with propylene oxide did not inhibit infectivity completely. Filtration through a 450 nm filter removed the infectious agent.Tobacco tumor virus or a viroid could not be isolated. Cultures ofCorynebacterium fascians, isolated from tumours ofN. megalosiphon were highly infectious and induced tumours in healthyN. megalosiphon andBegonia. Tumorous tissue homogenates ofPelargonium zonale, Dahlia sp.,Gladiolus sp., andLilium sp. also caused tumours inN. megalosiphon, from whichC. fascians was isolated. It was not possible to produce tumours inN. megalosiphon with homogenates from roses with symptoms of bud proliferation.Samenvatting In 1975 werden vele tumoren waargenomen inBegonia Schwabenland op Aalsmeerse bedrijven (Fig. 1). De infectiositeit van tumorweefsel kon goed en snel worden vastgesteld door de wortels van zaailingen vanNicotiana megalosiphon in een homogenaat van tumorweefsel te dompelen. Tumoren ontstonden na twee weken, de eindbeoordeling geschiedde na een maand (Fig. 2). Ook verschillende andereNicotiana spp.,Melilotus officinalis (Fig. 3) enPisum odoratum (Fig. 4) werden aangetast.Bij de infectiositeitstoets gaven zeer korte dompeltijden even goede resultaten als langere (Tabel 1). Infectieus sap verloor zijn infectievermogen na 10 min verhitting bij 50°C. Bladluizen brachten de smetstof over. Propyleenoxide verminderde de infectiositeit wel, doch onderdrukte deze niet totaal. Bij filtratie door een 450 nm filter bleef het infectieuse agens op het filter achter. Het tumor-inducerende agens was ook aanwezig in die delen van planten met tumoren welke gezond leken en het ging voor een gering deel over met zaad (Tabel 2).Uit tumoren konden wij geen tabakstumorvirus of een viroïde isoleren. Culturen vanCorynebacterium fascians, geïsoleerd uit tumoren vanN. megalosiphon bleken zeer infectieus en veroorzaakten tumoren inN. megalosiphon enBegonia. Homogenaten van tumorweefsel vanPelargonium zonale, dahlia (Fig. 5), gladiool (Fig. 6) enLilium Mid Century Hybrid Enchantment (Fig. 7) veroorzaakten ook tumoren opN. megalosiphon, waaruitC. fascians werd geïsoleerd. Met sap van kroeskopzieke rozen konden wijN. megalosiphon niet besmetten.